Friday, December 19, 2014

As we get closer to the Holidays it’s always a good idea to be festive. Festivity causes happiness and who doesn’t love to be happy? One of thousands of ways to show your holiday spirit is to hang up lights! For years people have hung up lights on their buildings and loved it! From simple white lights to full figurines made fully of lights.

Columbia is now different than any other city and offers great attractions in the field of holiday lights. It’s first show is called the Holiday Lights on the River at the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission. This light show lights up Saluda Shoals with over a million bright lights! Making a run from November 26th through December 31st, you have a great window of opportunity to go see it. It has many parts like the Dazzling Dancing Forest, Wetland Wonderland Walking Trail, etc. They even offer special events like Nights of Wonder running December 12th-23rd. (To read more visit http://www.icrc.net/holiday-lights)

Another great show in Columbia is the Lights Before Christmas at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden. This is a great light show put on by Columbia’s local zoo! This light show offers many activities for people of all ages. With nightly Santa visits for the kids and nearly one million lights for the adults it’s great for the whole family! Other things offered are the Music in Motion Lights Spectacular and the Jingle Bell Bonfire. It runs November 21st through December 30th. (To read more visit http://www.sciway.net/tourism/sc-holiday-lights.html)

Charleston is also an amazing place to see holiday lights! They are not lacking in that area at all. A great place to go is the Celebrate the Season Holiday Driving Tour at the Old Santee Canal Park. Running November 28th through December 30th it gives you a lot of time to see it’s amazing features. Only five dollars per person you get to drive down the river and see tons of lights that are even energy efficient. It even gives its proceeds to local charities!! (To read more visit http://celebratetheseason.oldsanteecanalpark.org/)

So pack up the car with the kids and a few good snacks and hit the road! Aside from these choice spots, most local newspapers list residential houses that went above and beyond and need to be viewed. Rally the family and take in some genuine holiday cheer! This the only time of year we get to see the beauty of a well-decorated Christmas display, so take advantage of it!!

Friday, December 12, 2014

Many things come to mind when one thinks of a good house-warming gift. Anything from a welcome mat to a piece or art is needed by a new homeowner. So this week, we decided to help give you a few outside-the-box ideas to stand out from the mountains of dishes and glassware that everyone else is giving them:

1. Silverware - Food is one of the main necessities a human needs to sustain its life and live the healthiest it possibly can. To make this easier, humans began to make cutlery, also know as flatware, to cut down the work needed to eat and increase sanitation. A great gift idea for a recent homeowner would be just this. They would need it for virtually every meal they have, and without it they would have to eat with their hands...GROSS!

2. Plants - Decoration for a new homeowner is very important so their house doesn't look plain and bland. So why not purchase something to spice the house up?! If you were to give someone that has recently purchased a house a plant, you can give them a decoration and a hobby. Better hope they keep it alive!

3. Animal Safe Taxidermy - Taxidermy has always been a pretty nice market for homeowners, especially in the South. It has traditionally been used as a trophy for hunters, but a new form of animal safe taxidermy has helped shake the whole "dead animal on the wall" vibe taxidermy had. Using cardboard, wood, duct tape and other synthetic products, animal safe taxidermy removes the need to go out and catch your new wall art before putting it up.

4. Garbage Cans - An often overlooked gift, but humans are very wasteful and all that trash needs somewhere to go. Everything can be thrown away or recycled, so having one is a must. A new homeowner would love a garbage can to throw away all the trash from moving--you can never seem to have enough when moving!

5. Curtains - Most people would say that they are definitely not a morning person. This obviously meaning right when a person wakes up they don't want the sun blinding them, so why not save them the trouble. After figuring out their bedroom theme, if they have one, you can gift them some fancy, new curtains! It would be a great idea for a new homeowner. And just think, every time they wake up, they'll have you to thank for protecting their eyes from the bright morning sun!!!

6. Paintings - Art has always been an amazing form of expression for mankind and many works of art continue to wonder us today. To purchase paintings for a new homeowner would be a great idea! Right now they're probably decorating their house and would love to have a new addition here and there!

7. Wine Bottle Holders - Most new homeowners are old enough to drink (hopefully) and enjoy a glass here and there. A lot of people prefer wine to other forms of alcohol and a wine bottle holder is a great idea for that special new homeowner. After finally unpacking all their aged wines and putting in this great gift you've given them, they can sit back, relax, and enjoy a glass of wine.

8. Clocks/Alarms - A small gift isn't always bad. If you're running a low budget, but still want to purchase a gift for you new homeowner friend then alarms are a great choice! Being on time is very important and t
hey really need to pay their new house so do your part in making sure they get to work to make the money to pay those bills!

Friday, December 5, 2014

It’s that time of year again! Christmas trees are going up,
stockings are being hung, and everyone is scrambling around, trying to get
every last gift on their gift lists before the big day. If you’re like me, and
most everyone else, you still have a bit to do before the 25th rolls
around. Not to fear! Here are a few tips to make the last few weeks really
count, so you can get the most for the best bargain!

Now there is no harm in starting early. In fact, you might
have already picked up a few things here and there but all the real deals come
during the holidays. The best way to tackle this is to get organized. List out
exactly what you need to get and who to get it for. Research where these items
are sold, and where and when you can get the best price. Write it out, and you
can create a game plan for where to go first and what to get where. A task like
this seems unnecessary, but works wonders when used. Avoid extra frustrations
by using the list to make decisions on where to go and what to get for you.

If online shopping is more for you, there are even few tips
to know when choosing to shop from home instead of braving the mall. For online
shoppers, take into account shipping costs when you plan out holiday budgets.
Also do not discount shipping time either, shopping online has a definitive cut
off date where you will not get presents in time for Christmas if you don’t
place the orders soon enough (for instance, the cut off date for a common
online retailer, Amazon is December 16th, unless you’re willing to
pay a fee to get it expedited.) Cut off dates vary from business to business,
but the information is readily available on their respective websites. Watch
your spam inbox for exclusive deals and coupons. It’s easy to ignore spam when
it flows in at a regular basis, but taking that extra five minutes to filter
through and see if a coupon is waiting for you.

And if all else fails, do not discredit the power of a
homemade gift. Make food or simply offer your time. You can avoid retail
insanity during the holidays and truly give a piece of yourself to a loved one
instead of a hollow, plastic figurine. You can find countless ideas for small
crafts that you can turn into heartfelt presents for any type of person.

Whatever method works for you, don’t let the stress of getting
it all done keep you from enjoying the true reason for the holidays—spending
time with the ones you love.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Continuing with our home buying series, this week’s post is
all about building that credit score before getting a loan. Building your
credit score does not have to be hard. Often it seems to be more trouble than
it actually is. There are few tips you can put in practice to move you credit
score to a more attractive number for lenders. Follow the steps and you’ll find
yourself in a good spot when you go to apply for a loan for your new home.

Timing is an important factor in this process. You CAN NOT
change your credit score overnight. It will take several months of consistent
action to start moving the dial in the right direction, so it is a good idea to
start as soon as you can. Not that starting late is a kiss of death, but the
earlier you start, the more change you can make before you buy.

First, get an overlook of your credit situation (monthly
bills, your actual score, total credit used/available, interest rates, etc.)
Your first order of business is to get rid of “nuisance” debt. Nuisance debt is
defined as any small balance on a random credit card. Usually these cards have
smaller limits or might be a retail store card—basically any card you don’t use
on a regular basis. Eliminating these will not only ease the strain on your
wallet, but help raise your score by a few points. Generally, the best way to
approach this is to pick the lest used card with the highest interest rate and
pay that one off, then proceed to the next, and so on.

Another method you can try actually seems like it would work
against you, but, in reality, it is a very smart practice. Leave past, settled
debts on your credit score. Most want these off their score report because some
people think showing any sign of debt (past or present) on your score report is
bad. This is not true. It’s very beneficial to leave that old, already paid
debt on your debt report. Lenders want to see you are good for the money they
lend you. John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education at CreditSesame,
compares trying to remove old, settled debt off your report to, “making
straight A’s in high school and trying to expunge the record 20 years later.” You
worked hard to pay off that debt, so wear that paid debt record proudly! The
debt will eventually fall off after a set amount of time, but you should leave
those debts on your score as long as possible.

Paying bills on time should be of major importance to you.
This is the best way to see movement with your credit score. Try to pay them
around the same time each month as well. Lenders want consistency, so seeing
your consistency with your past bills will make you look a little more
desirable. Additionally, you get to move your debt totals down, and move one
step closer to the house you’re dreaming for.

Lastly, when planning to buy a home, it is beneficial to
avoid as much risk as possible. It would be wise to avoid any lavishes
purchases, excess credit card usage, or paying less on bills. Try to be careful
of purchases that might indicate future financial issues as well (payday
advances, divorce attorneys, etc.) Seems crazy that you must have such
vigilance over your own life, but lenders will use any reason to up rates or
lower the amount you can borrow, so don’t give them the ammunition in the first
place.

Raising your credit score isn’t as instantaneous as we would
like, but with careful planning and execution, you can reach the highest scores
on the spectrum. So don’t get defeated when your efforts don’t seem to bear
fruit immediately. If you follow all the steps above, you will see that score
rise. The journey to your new home is starting to take shape, and we’re excited
to help you get there!

Friday, November 14, 2014

Buying a new home is one of the most exciting points in
one’s life, but can appear to be an overwhelming task. Having knowledge of the
process is key, and getting familiar with all the procedures, rules, and lingo
takes time but is not impossible to figure out. Become familiar with terms that
are associated with financing (binder, earnest money, graduated payment
mortgage, etc.) The National Association of Home Builders has a great resource
known as the “Home Buyer’s Dictionary” that includes those terms and many more.
Not all will apply to your situation, but most you will find relevant and will
allow you understand exactly what the numerous legal papers in your future are
saying.

It can’t be stressed enough for you to determine exactly how
much you can afford to pay on a monthly basis. A home has numerous fees
involved on top of living expenses such as water, food, gas, etc. In addition
to monthly insurance and property taxes, you will have monthly interest and
principal to pay. It is important to realistically estimate what you can afford
and stick to it. Don’t let anyone sway you from you determined amount either.
There will be temptations, but hold fast and refuse to buy anything above what
you can afford. Another important tip that falls in this category has to do
with monthly debts. At this point, you have already taken into account your
monthly expenses. Before you close on your home, try and reduce those monthly
bill payments. This will not only look better for lenders, but will also give
you more reserve cash for when you need it.

Once you’ve got a good grasp of the finance process, it is
time to get preapproved for a loan. This preapproval doesn’t guarantee you’ll
get financed, but will give you a good idea as to whether or not you will be
approved and is a major step on the road to home ownership!

Friday, November 7, 2014

There are many things to consider when it comes to buying a
new home. So much so, that buying a home has become a very daunting task that
not only requires critical attention to detail but also the ability to manage a
multitude of tasks at once. Whether it’s deciding on where to put what
furniture or something on a grander scale (ie. what style of kitchen to
install), building a new home is all about decisions. And without proper
knowledge, some of those decisions can be very costly or not beneficial to the
family overall. In lieu of the sheer mountain of information that is involved
with building a home, we’ve decided to spend a number of our upcoming posts
pertaining to all sorts of information that one should know before the set out
to buy a home. Use this checklist to make sure you’re 100% ready for whatever
home ownership has to throw at you, we will be emphasize one point on the
checklist each week to give you tips and tricks to get you in the right place
before you buy:

1.Get Pre-Approved For Financing – Before even
stepping into your first Open House, get preapproval for a loan from a lender. There
is no point in house searching if you won’t get approved so reach out to a
lender to review what you have to offer. Additionally, make sure they give you
a true preapproval and not a pre-qualification. Pre-qualifications solely
assess information readily available to them (such as credit scores and payment
histories.) A preapproval will actual put you through the review process of
getting a loan before you actually get one, so you know up front exactly if you’ll
get approved and what you have to work with.

2.Build Your Credit Score – a strong credit score
ensures low mortgage rates and reaffirms to lenders that you are good for the
money you borrow. The magic number falls within the 700-720 range. This will
net you low interest rates, and manageable monthly payments. 750+ will score
the best rates in the market, and the general consensus is <650 is largely
the cutoff for most lenders.

3.Determine Your Budget – This is a large key to
figuring out the puzzle that is homebuilding. It is important to plan out what
payments you’ll be making, how much they’ll be, and when they’ll be due. A good
rule of thumb to follow is to not have your monthly house expenses (including
utilities) equal no less that 30% of your monthly income. This will allow you
to still save, live, and will also offer insights on where you can help
conserve energy to keep bills down. (Don’t forget taxes, closing fees, and
saving for the down payment)

4.SAVE! SAVE! SAVE! – Having a nest egg for
lenders to see reassures them that you will be able to pay your loans back and
will often give you more lee-way the more you have saved. In addition to the
security, having that savings will ease the trouble of unexpected house
mishaps. Common things that can go wrong could have dire consequences on a
family whose nest egg is not where it should be.

Each week we’ll be giving some detail on each of the points
on the checklist to give you a good idea of what buying a house entails. Using
these steps as a guideline will not only help you navigate the process but also
set you up for successful home ownership and ensure your family is secured for
years to come. Check back in the coming weeks to review our in depth discussion
of home buying and maybe you’ll pull a few tips and tricks that will make it a
bit easier to get your family in the home they deserve!

Friday, October 24, 2014

Whether it’s Halloween, Christmas, or another celebration, the
holidays are the greatest time of year, but also the most expensive. From
costumes and candy, to Thanksgiving feasts, to gifts for the whole family; the
Holidays are also the most stressful on the family wallet. So today, we’re
going to give you some tips to keep those winter bills from going up, so you
have more money to spend on getting down. With just a few small tricks and
tips, you can save tons of cash on holiday decorating to reallocate wherever
you see fit.

The first small trick you can do to save money when you
choose to start decorating for the seasons is to throw out those old string
lights. Now, everyone loves to use string lights, but they’re notorious energy
eaters and an extremely festive family can find themselves left with a hefty
electricity bill at the end of the season. To help ease the burden, but to also
prevent cutting back on the decorating, use LED lights to light up your house.
The LED’s require much less energy than traditional holiday light strands, and
you’ll definitely tell a difference by the time the bills roll in.
Additionally, if you choose to use ENERGYSTAR® products, there are often
many local rebates and coupons available for use at local hardware stores.
Invest in a timer. You can attach it to your lights to limit the amount of time
your lights remain on, and also will prevent prolonged light use from
forgetting to shut them off. Also, the use of reflective surfaces and
reflective decorations can help magnify light and reduce the overall amount of
light needed. Play with some creative ways to maybe even reflect some of your
neighbor’s grandiose display onto yours. Now sit back and enjoy that beautiful,
energy-efficient display!

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Every year Halloween brings out some of the most creative
and unique decorations out in the world. Often made up of everyday household
items, we always find it interesting to see how people apply things we use
everyday into another purpose completely outside the box. This principle has
had a interesting effect on the most recognized symbol of Halloween -- the
family jack o’lantern. This iconic decoration has become the staple of the
Halloween season; and the pastime of carving them has transcended everyday arts
and crafts into an all out art piece capable of the same shock and awe garnered
from other more well known art mediums.

But the goal today is to educate you and your family on some
secret tips that will make your family’s jack o’lantern the talk of the
neighborhood.

The first major step comes in selection of your family’s
pumpkin. An ideal pumpkin for carving has thick walls, the thicker – the easier
it is to carve. To ensure your pumpkin has thick walls, check the stem. An
ideal pumpkin will have a distinct, thick stem. The general thickness of the
stem indicates the thickness of the walls, while you can use it’s color to
determine how hard the walls of the pumpkin will be. A green stem means the
pumpkin is fresh and will likely give you the most use before rotting. Try to
go for these first, as they will give you the easiest time carving as well as
significant longevity. In addition to stem size, check for blemishes and soft
spots just as you would any vegetable you would buy. It is also important to
note that a misshapen pumpkin is not a death sentence. Often some of the most
creative pumpkins come from ones not the perfect shape, so embrace what you
find. Just make sure that stem is in order!

Timing is very important in carving jack o’lanterns. You can
expect it to last anywhere from a few days to a little over a week, so plan
accordingly for when you want it to be displayed. Also, once you begin carving,
it is recommended you continue the carving until it’s finished. As soon as you
make the first cut, the pumpkin begins to decompose, leaving the project and
coming back will cause you to deal with trying to carve a softer, weaker
pumpkin wall; which could lead to accidental damages. To be safe, complete the carving
when the walls are as strong as they possibly can be to minimize accidental
damages. To further prevent accidents, plan out your pumpkin design completely,
even draw it one the pumpkin with a pen or marker, this will keep you carving
in line, and will prevent you from losing your place or making wrong cuts.
Using a spray bottle of water and spraying the pumpkin wall while you’re
carving will also ease in the carving process.

Some things to keep in mind while carving include keeping an
open mind about what tools you use to carve. You can purchase pumpkin carving
kits, but often you can find versions of these tools at home, in addition to
finding other items that could offer you more detailed line work (paring
knives, lemon zesters.) The real tricks to professional pumpkin carving come in
the treatments of the pumpkin whilst carving. The first major rule is to never
cut the top of your pumpkin. Cutting a hole in the top of your pumpkin cuts the
pumpkin off from its lifeline – the stem. The stem provides the whole pumpkin
with nutrients that will keep it thriving a few days longer. The same goes for
the bottom; cutting the bottom will allow all the moisture in the pumpkin to
run out where you cut it. Not only will this drain the pumpkin of moisture, but
it will also make quite the mess!! The best place to put a hole is in the back
of the pumpkin. The water loss will be minimal, it retains its lifeline to the
stem, and the hole is still not visible to everyone. Another common
misconception is the use of fire to light a pumpkin. The fire actually cooks
the inside of the pumpkin, drying it out faster and ultimately cutting its
lifespan. The best alternative is an LED or CFL bulb, which will produce a
large amount of light, but hardly any heat. In general, you will want to keep
your pumpkin cool. It slows the decomposition process and will give you a few
extra days out of your jack o’lantern. In fact, if you can refrigerate your
jack o’lantern at night, it would be ideal.

Now you’ve got all the tips to produce the best jack
o’lantern out there! We’re looking forward to seeing what spooky creations you
can come up with!

Friday, October 10, 2014

One of the exciting parts about buying a new home is enjoying the changes of seasons and making new holiday memories.

Even if this is not your first Halloween in your new home, below are some great safety tips to keep in mind before little candy hunters arrive at your door on the 31st.

Have a clear path - Make sure there are no objects in the way of your front door - look out for toys, trash, yard waste or even decorations. Tape down any cords you may have plugged in so they don't cause anyone to trip.

Keep your yard lit - Turn on your porch light if you are welcoming trick-or-treaters. If you have Jack-o-Lanterns out, try to use LED candles to light them instead of live flames.

If you have pets keep them inside the house or locked up. They may be frightened by all of the visitors and it's best to plan ahead for their peace of mind and the protection of others.

If you're out of candy or not participating, turn all your lights out to let trick-or-treaters know. You can even put out a "No Candy" sign if you don't want there to be any confusion.

Remember if you are handing out candy not to include homemade goods - some parents are wary of having their children eat homemade food from strangers especially with allergy concerns.

So pick out a bag of your favorite candy and enjoy handing it out this Halloween - just make sure to save some for yourself!

Friday, October 3, 2014

Fall is here; and winter is fast approaching! While it might
not quite feel like fall here in South Carolina, now’s the perfect chance to
take advantage of the last bit of heat to get out and make sure your home is
ready for the upcoming weather changes. If last year’s pattern continues or
forecasters’ predictions for this winter come true, the Palmetto State is in
for a topsy-turvy few months. So save yourself the trouble later by prepping
your house for every last curveball Mother Nature has up her sleeve. Here are a
few tips that can save you money, time, and trouble this coming winter season.

One of the biggest things you can do that will have major
impact this winter is sealing any cracks and gaps in your house. This will not
only keep more heat in/cold out but also lower energy bills since there are
less ways for heat to escape your house. Additionally, using weather stripping
will act as a sealing for windows and doors. On average, if one added all the
cracks and gaps in a typical home, the total area would equal that of your
standard window!! Don’t take the chance and double check! You never know where
those nooks and crannies are that will leak air. Some key areas to check are:
windows, doors, outlets, external hookups to utilities (A/C, water heater),
around sidings of your house, and any pipes that show (under your sink in
bathrooms and kitchen.)

Check your roof for worn away/broken shingles. Any water
(AKA SNOW OR RAIN!) that gets underneath the shingles runs the risk of causing
a leak. In addition to creating a hole for heat to get out, a hole in your roof
opens your house up to other issues difficult to address rather winter or not.

Some other tips involve trimming dead or low hanging
branches. They will come down during a winter storm, so prevent the chance of
them falling on something and get them out of the way now.This can apply from everything to
taming shrubbery all the way to removing a leaning/dead tree to prevent it
falling and causing immense damage. Another less thought of measure you can
take involves properly storing your lawnmower for the winter. Make sure to seal
caps and openings tightly and remove the gas from the machine. This will help
it start later on in the spring later. And did you know that fertilizing your
lawn before the top layer goes dormant will allow it to store those nutrients
for the whole winter, giving you a kick start on that green spring lawn?

Following these steps will give you a real advantage over
the winter. Don’t go through these problems while your freeze; handle these
things while you can still go outside without freezing solid! Your home is an
investment you can’t afford to lose! So take the extra steps now to ensure your
home can weather the storm!

Friday, September 26, 2014

The U.S. Department of Housing and Development and the U.S.
Census Bureau announced this week that sales of new, single-family homes
increased by a massive 18% in August (with an adjusted annual rate at over
500,000 units!) This number shows the housing market at its highest level in 6
years! And this information comes on the heels of builders across the country
seeing an increased traffic of serious homebuyers. The Chief Economist for the
National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) contributes this growth to,
“historically low mortgage rates, attractive home prices and firming job and
economic growth.” Every region of the country saw an increase in home sales
(sans the Midwest), with the West seeing a 50 percent increase over the past
month alone!

With the outlook on the rest of the year looking strong, it
seems the economy is slowly returning to the status it was before the economic
downturn. The Department estimates an inventory of new homes for sale at around
203,000, which is barely a 5-month supply. But rest assured, we here at Paradime Construction are hard at work to push those numbers higher!